Tate McRae brings her magnetic appeal to Manila
There are many things—mostly dreadful—that I associate with Mondays, but attending a pop concert was never one of them. To begin with, who dares to command her fans to catch a show right at the beginning of the week?
And yet, the 21-year-old Canadian singer, songwriter and dancer Tate McRae pulled it off with much audacity last week during the Philippine leg of her “Think Later” world tour. Her galvanizing Manila debut at the New Frontier Theater left her “Tater Tots” struck and wanting more.
McRae, who has had an illustrious journey as a performer, has always been poised to become the next main pop girl in an industry saturated with overwhelming talent. Before she even released her hard-hitting mainstream hits Greedy and Exes, she had already built a name for herself at 13 years old after emerging as a finalist in a reality TV dance show.
But here’s a confession: as a casual listener who only stumbled upon McRae through snippets of her music videos used as reaction clapbacks on Twitter, I couldn’t quite grasp her appeal.
Now, having watched her perform live, it’s not difficult to understand why people are rooting for her domination.
I went to Tate McRae’s ‘Think Later’ tour feeling a wee baffled about who she is as a pop star. I get it now.
Arriving at the almost empty theater, I wondered if people were even coming to watch her. Maybe I was too early. Maybe it’s the fact that it was a Monday (an interesting choice, by the way) and people were busy. And since I had nothing better to do, I started talking to people in the pit to gauge the energy and ask what they were most looking forward to.
“I really connect with her music. Whenever I’m sad or happy, I listen to her,” college student Ari explained to me, to which her friend, Angela, added: “Her songs are so relatable and really capture our relationships nowadays.”
Noticing the big space in the floor section, Ari joked about the emptiness of the venue. “I didn’t know she was so indie!”
Right then and there, as if her loyal fans had heard our conversation and wanted to come in defense of the TikTok sensation, the theater started filling up with bedazzled girls and gays and boys, most of whom were donning the blue hockey jerseys they had just bought as merch right outside the venue. Her fanbase, it seemed, is quite varied as there were also kids accompanied by their parents.
On my right, I struck up a conversation with Isabel, who admitted to being only a casual listener. “I’m just really glad to be here to enjoy the night and celebrate with my best friend,” the newly minted doctor told me. “Tate is such a good dancer and I can’t wait to see her moves.”
At the tiniest changes in lights and the stage, people screamed in anticipation of the pop star. A palpable sense of ecstasy filled the air as her stunning introduction video transported us into a technicolor frenzy. Then her silhouette appeared. There she was, in a simple nude corset top, shorts and a pair of white boots.
From the get-go, McRae dazzled effortlessly. Her fresh energy pulsated throughout the theater through her powerful vocals and sultry movements accentuated by her backup dancers and band. As she went on to perform her iconic tracks—oscillating between her iconic hits Exes and heartbreak anthems such as Grave—I began to understand her appeal: this is a versatile performer who relentlessly commits to her craft.
At one point, McRae engaged with the crowd, putting us to a test of which side of the theater could cheer the loudest. Everyone played along, making me feel a rush of euphoria. Eventually, she told us to sing along to Guilty Conscience. With much vivacity, we willingly did.
The excitement was invigorating and contagious, and the folks in our section eventually befriended each other. Isabel and her best friend Florence shouted at the top of their lungs, along with JC, who quipped jokes between McRae’s set. Ari and Angela on my left cheered as loud as they could. So magnetic was the appeal of the pop star my age that, at some point, I resigned to taking videos and allowed myself to be mesmerized by her precise choreography from a distance.
Capping off her show, which lasted under an hour, she performed Run for the Hills. During its climax, a flurry of confetti burst into the air. I reached to get a hold of them, in awe. (“Get a piece of the confetti for remembrance—the merch is too expensive,” a person behind me joked.) Shortly after, McRae went back to the stage for the encore to perform her new single It’s Ok I’m Ok and hit Greedy.
Still high from the show, I left the theater feeling foolish about my initial inability to resonate with her artistry. Spectacular would be an understatement. I owe you an apology, Tate McRae. I wasn’t familiar with your game.
* * *
Tate McRae’s latest single 'It’s Ok I’m Ok' and her album 'Think Later' are available on all major streaming platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.
